Dutch ombudsmen criticize the government for ignoring civilians' needs

The Dutch ombudsmen have accused the government of ignoring signals and advice from society and the rights of civilians. “The actual helping of people does not seem the be the priority in the political debates,” the National Ombudsman and Veterans Ombudsman, Reinier van Zutphen, and the Children's Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer stated in a foreword to the 2024 annual report.

According to the ombudsmen, bills, motions, and amendments are often “more aimed at the stage than at the citizen.” Promises about, for example, compensation for the childcare benefits scandal or improved accessibility and public services are not accompanied by the necessary investments in the implementing agencies.

“Unrealistic promises create distrust and undermine confidence in the government, especially among the people for whom the plans are intended,” the ombudsmen wrote.

They have asked the government on several occasions to do a better job of listening to their civilians and implementing agencies and institutions that protect the rule of law.

One example of advice going unheard was regarding the much-discussed asylum laws. This leads to “improper governance,” the ombudsmen have said in the past. When the government ignores signals and advice, then “the civilians pay the price.”

The government does not always have the civilian’s interests at heart when it comes to their policies, the ombudsmen think. An example of this is school transport for students with a handicap. They are often picked up late or not at all, which leads to them coming in late or missing classes.

“This happens because practical and financial interests outweigh the interest in the child,” Kalverboer said. She called on the now caretaker Cabinet to see student transport as a part of healthcare in 2024.

The government is also failing when it comes to supporting families of veterans who suffer from PTSD. The ombudsmen were also critical of the protection of the right to demonstrate. This led to Van Zutphen launching an investigation into how this right was utilized in the Netherlands last year.

According to the ombudsmen, the government can regain people’s trust. They named DUO, the central agency for education-related administration, as an example. It was proven in the past that the agency used an algorithm that discriminated against students. The agency apologized for this, spoke to the students, and is now working on compensating them.

However, the government should always be treating its citizens in the right way, not only when something has gone wrong, the ombudsmen think. “The rule of law does not protect itself.”